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The Atlanta Braves franchise is one of the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchises in America. The Braves franchise has both a rich and diverse baseball history that encompasses significant contributions and achievements from many African Americans. The contributions of our African American Braves players are not only significant to the history of the organization, but also to Braves fans. These contributions embody integrity, respect, teamwork, strong tradition and passion for the game of baseball.

Photo Galleries

HANK AARON TRIBUTE

Decades have passed since one swing of Hank Aaron's bat became indelibly etched in Major League Baseball history. Read about Aaron's homers and much more in the "Hammer" tribute »

DAVID JUSTICE WORLD SERIES '95

HERITAGE CELEBRATION

To celebrate our city's rich diversity, each season the Braves host a weekend of events to honor baseball's role in affecting social change. The Braves also hosted Major League Baseball's annual Civil Rights Game in 2011 and 2012. Check out some of the highlights from previous years.

Braves in the news

Emotional Aaron relates to Obama
There was once a time when it seemed improbable to think that anybody would break Babe Ruth's career home run record.Full story »

Braves take Moore in special draft
The Braves selected James "Red" Moore in the special Negro Leagues draft, and the first-base great was ecstatic to be involved.Full story »

Heyward setting, achieving goals
At the age of 10, Jason Heyward was telling friends he was going to be a big leaguer. Nine years later, he's well on his way. Full story »

Jones learns about the bigs
Braves prospect Brandon Jones had a taste of the big leagues in 2007. Now he wants to build on that and become a regular for the Braves. More »

Justice inducted to Braves Hall of Fame
As the Braves prepared to officially induct David Justice into their Hall of Fame on Friday afternoon at Turner Field, general manager John Schuerholz provided Justice with a message that certainly proved to be true. More »Ben Taylor, first baseman extraordinaire
Prior to Buck Leonard, Ben Taylor was the best first baseman to play in the Negro Leagues. Taylor was nimble around the bag, scooping poor throws to save his fellow infielders from errors.
More »

SAM JETRHOE (1950-1952)

In 1950, in his first season in the Majors, Jethroe hit .273 with 18 home runs 58 and runs batted. His 35 stolen bases were enough to lead the National League. He stole 35 bases again in 1951 and, once again, led the National League. In 1952, problems seemed to set in for Jethroe. All of his numbers tumbled and the rumors were that he had vision problems. There were also rumors that he was really older than his listed age. Sam posted a .261 batting average with 49 home runs and 181 RBIs in 440 games with the Braves. bio »

JIM PENDLETON (1953-1956)

Jim hit .254 with 8 home runs and 43 RBI in 213 games with the Braves. bio »

HANK AARON (1954-1974)

Henry Louis Aaron, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is best known for setting the Major League record for most home runs in a career (755), surpassing the previous mark of 714 held by Babe Ruth. Aaron currently holds the career marks for runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), total bases (6,856), and consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits (17). bio »

MACK JONES (1961-1967)

Jones hit 31 homeruns in his first full season, finishing third in the NL in home run percentage. Jones also had 18 doubles, seven triples and 76 RBIs. Teamed with Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre, Felipe Alou, and Gene Oliver, the Braves set a NL record with six 20-HR men in one season. bio »

RALPH GARR (1968-1975)

In 1974 Garr led the National League in hitting ending with a .353 average and thus was named to the National League All-Star team. In a 13-year career, he batted .306 with 75 home runs and 408 RBIs in 1317 games. He had 1,562 career hits in 5,108 at bats. Garr had 717 career runs scored and he batted .300 or better 5 times during his career. Ralph Garr was a very talented hitter and had the skill to hit to all areas of the field. This left the opposing team never quite sure how to set up their defense when Garr came up to bat.

The free-swinging leadoff man repeated as triples leader in 1975, and hit .300 twice again with the White Sox (1976 and 1977). Among baseball insiders, Garr was known as much for his squeaky voice, Hank Aaron imitations, and nonstop comic monologues as for his bat. He later became a hitting and base running instructor. bio »

BILL LUCAS (1957-1979)

Bill Lucas spent close to 20 years with the Braves organization and became the highest-ranking African American in baseball history at age 40 on Sept. 19, 1976, after being named general manager by new owner, Ted Turner. Even though his job title was vice president of player personnel, he performed all of the general manager duties, as the Braves didn't have the title of "general manager" at the time. Lucas passed away at the age of 43 in May 1979, after two full seasons as general manager. bio »

JERRY ROYSTER (1973-1988)

Jeron Kennis Royster was born October 18, 1952 in Sacramento, California. Royster was a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves, the San Diego Padres, the Chicago White Sox, and the New York Yankees, as well as a former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. At age 17, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Dodgers in 1970. Three years later he made it up to the big leagues with Los Angeles. He did not play more than 13 games with the Dodgers, before they quickly sent him to the Atlanta Braves as part of a six-player trade. Royster became a regular third baseman with the Braves. Royster spent nine years with the Braves, before he joined the Padres as a free agent, but he was no longer an everyday infielder. In 1988, he returned to the Braves at the age of 35, but at the end of the season he retired. In 2002, Royster returned to the major leagues as a coach under Davey Lopes. After only 15 games Lopes was fired and Royster was named interim manager. Royster was named the head coach two weeks later, but he was fired after a disappointing 53-94 record. bio »

TERRY HARPER (1980-1986)

Harper's first Major League hit was a triple off San Diego's Rick Wise, Sept. 13, 1980, in his second big-league game. His first Major League homer came as a pinch-hitter off John Curtis, also of San Diego, May 24, 1981. Originally signed as a pitcher in 1973, he was converted into an everyday player in 1976. Terry posted career single-season highs in hits (130), home runs (17), and RBIs (72) in 1985, in a very productive year as an everyday starter. He also finished the year playing a solid outfield with a team high 10 assists, 11th best in the National League.

Terry posted a .254 batting average with 36 home runs and 163 RBI in 473 games with the Braves. Also had 29 outfield assists. bio »

RON GANT (1987-1994)

Ronald Edwin Gant was born March 2, 1965 in Victoria, Texas. Gant is a former American Major League right-handed outfielder who had played second baseman earlier in his career. He played for the Atlanta Braves in 1987-1993, the Cincinnati Reds in 1995, the St. Louis Cardinals from 1996-1998, the Philadelphia Phillies 1999-2000, the Anaheim Angels in 2000, the Colorado Rockies and the Oakland Athletics in 2001, for the San Diego Padres in 2002, and again the Athletics briefly in 2003. He is one of the few players to ever join the 30-30 club, at least 30 stolen bases and at least 30 home runs in the same season, when he accomplished it twice in 1990 and 1991 with the Braves. bio »

TERRY PENDLETON (1991-1994, 1996)

In 1991, Terry Pendleton was named the National League Most Valuable Player, the National League Batting Champion and the National League Comeback Player of the Year. Pendleton led the National League in hits in 1991 and 1992 and in total bases in 1991. Terry was named to the National League All-Star Team in 1992. bio »

DAVID JUSTICE (1999-2006)

When Justice made a 1995 appearance on The Young and the Restless, some people thought that he wasn't paying enough attention to baseball. Other fans and members of the media doubted his willingness to play hurt, especially in 1997 when Justice sat out Game Five of the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox because he had a stiff neck. The Indians lost that game 12-8, and many felt that if Justice was in the lineup they could have won. But Justice stated that when he took himself out of the lineup, it wasn't because he didn't want to play, but because he felt he would be more of a detriment than a help.

Justice played in the Majors for fourteen seasons, in that time Justice reached the playoffs ten times and the World Series six times (1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001). bio »

BRIAN JORDAN (1982-90)

Has two daughters, Briana and Kenley, and two sons, Bryson and Kaleb Braxton. Resides in Alpharetta, Ga. Jordan attended University of Richmond where he played baseball and football and was a sociology major. Was named All-America and all-conference in football and all-conference in baseball. He graduated of Milford HS in Baltimore, Md. and was inducted into the Milford Mill HS Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 when he appeared at the school to award two $16,000 college scholarships as part of his Brian Jordan Back to the Future Foundation. Played baseball, football and basketball in high school. As a defensive back in football, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 1989 NFL draft and was released during training camp and picked up by the Atlanta Falcons. Spent three seasons (1989-91) with the Falcons and was named an alternate on the 1992 Pro Bowl team. bio »

ROWLAND JOHNIE OFFICE (1972, 1974 - 79)

Born October 25, 1952 in Sacramento, California, is a former outfielder for the Atlanta Braves (1972 and 1974-79), Montreal Expos (1980-82) and New York Yankees (1983). In 11 seasons he played in 899 Games and had 2,413 At Bats, 259 Runs, 626 Hits, 101 Doubles, 11 Triples, 32 Home Runs, 242 RBI, 27 Stolen Bases, 189 Walks, .259 Batting Average, .315 On-base percentage, .350 Slugging Percentage, 845 Total Bases, 23 Sacrifice Hits, 20 Sacrifice Flies and 15 Intentional Walks. Jerry Royster and Rowland Office batted one and two in the Braves batting order. Royster and Rowland played against each other in high school, in the highly competitive Metro League of Sacramento, California. The two played together for the Braves from 1976 to 1979. Office played at C. K. McClatchy High School and Sacramento City College.

LARRY BRADFORD (1977 - 80)

Born on December 21, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, Larry Bradford played for the Atlanta Braves for his entire 4 year career. Bradford broke into the bigs on September 24, 1977 with the Atlanta Braves, and put up a 2.44 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched in 1980, his rookie year. Most people believe that Larry Bradford's best season was 1980, when he posted a 2.44 ERA.